Seoul, South Korea – for hours, the atmosphere in the streets surrounding the Constitutional Court of South Korea, in the center of Seoul, was tense.
Dozens of people camped during the night under the spring cold, on the eve of the historic decision of the court on Friday.
The crowds for and against the dismissal of the dismissed president of the country, Yoon Suk Yeolwere separated by police buses and metal barriers up to 4 meters high.
As the interim president of the Supreme Court began to read the decision, full of legal technicalities, the crowd plunged into silence, striving to listen to the external speakers the result that would determine the fate of Yoon and that of the country.
Some opponents of Yoon cheered and applauded intermittently as he continued reading.
Manifesters of both sides gathered their hands in prayer.
Many raised their phones to record the moment.
And then the crowd exploded.
Who supported Yoon’s impeachment reacted with hugs, screams and fists in the air before the unanimous decision of dismiss it.
In a concentration of Yoon supporters near his residence, there were strong boos.
Some collapsed dismayed, while others utter insults.
“It has been very hard, but now I feel great relief,” said Kim Ji-Seon, 55, who led his daughter to witness the verdict in the hope that Yoon’s impeachment would be confirmed.
“I hope they can create a country where people can be happy.”
Shortly after the decision was announced, there were only a few people left, some with caps that said “Let’s do Korea Grande again” and “Alto al Robo”, in a demonstration in favor of Yoon that was scheduled to last all day in front of the presidential office.
Construction workers were dismantling scaffolding, and dozens of chairs had been stacked and removed.
Jang Jaeeuk, 21, said he stayed on the street near the court during the night along with other students from his university, sleeping only three hours, because it was a very important day for his country.
“I’m glad that the difficulties of the last four months have not been in vain,” he said after crying and hugging his teammates when he heard the verdict.
“Now I feel that we can change the world and, in that sense, I have hope in the future.”
Supporters
Yoon’s supporters near the court, who were mostly men, said they were deeply disappointed that the president was dismissed and returned home.
Yoon Seo-Jun, 18, sitting on the edge of an sidewalk, said he distrusted the system that led to Impeachment and was dismayed by the future of the country.
“South Korea’s democracy is dead,” he said, added that he hoped that the National Assembly, which had dismissed Yoon, dissolved.
After the decision, some South Koreans expressed concern about what could happen after and the possibility of new political disturbances.
Lee Yongseok, 27, who saw the televised decision of the court on a screen in the main Seoul train station, said that although he supported the verdict, he knew that others would be skeptical regarding the ruling and the judges who dictated it.
“I feel that something big will come to my country,” he said.
While Yoon’s supporters and opponents tried to understand what would come later, government officials were taking measures to move forward.
In a gesture that underlined the firmness of the court ruling, the officials withdrew the presidential emblem against the building where Yoon served as president.
The emblem carries the image of a mythical bird, The Phoenix.